You are using an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today.
SLAD

Instructors

SLAD Dance Instructors and Staff

Kacy
Kacy

 - Kacy Voskuil

Owner, Artistic Director

Owner and artistic director, Kacy Voskuil began her dance training at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green. She studied under Ms. Green and other instructo...[ MORE ]

Owner and artistic director, Kacy Voskuil began her dance training at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green. She studied under Ms. Green and other instructors such as Stanley Herbert, Jim Akman, Ludmilla Dukoudovsky, Tracy Speller, and Kathy Thiele. Miss Voskuil went on to complete SLAD's teaching apprentice program and has been instructing all levels and disciplines of dance at SLAD ever since.

"When I hear music, I see dance..." She is a choreographer and director of Pazazz Performers and has choreographed numerous musicals in the St. Louis area. A Pazazz alum herself, Ms. Voskuil has an extensive performance career including Webster University Dance Ensemble and BFA concerts, High School and Community theater musicals, and hundreds of Pazazz performances.

Ms. Voskuil completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance at Webster University under the direction of Gary Hubler and Beckah Voigt, with guest instructors including Jennifer Medina, Kristine Kardell, Nick Pupillo and Eddie Ocampo; studying ballet, tap, jazz and modern, plus improvisation, composition and dance pedagogy. In 2005, Miss Voskuil took the position of Associate Artistic Director of SLAD, becoming Artistic Director in 2006.
Emily
Emily

 - Emily Edwards

Co-Director

Emily, Assistant Director, began her dance career at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green at the age of 3. Emily is a proud Pazazz alum and went on to rece...[ MORE ]

Emily, Assistant Director, began her dance career at St. Louis Academy of Dance with founder Linda Green at the age of 3. Emily is a proud Pazazz alum and went on to receive her BFA in dance from Stephens College where she graduated Cum Laude. After graduation, Emily moved to New York and worked in many areas of the dance world while studying at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. Emily has studied with Jan Miller, Mary Rotella, Deborah Carr, Gail Gilbert, Katherine Kingsley and Liliana Morales. She has had extensive training in Ballet, Modern, Musical Theatre and Tap along with a wide variety of world dances. Emily is the current Assistant Director of Pazazz.
Alyssa
Alyssa

 - Alyssa Diamond

Instructor

Ann
Ann

 - Ann Dryden

Administrate Assistant

Carly
Carly

 - Carly Vanderheyden

Instructor

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carly attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with honors and earned a BFA in Dance, BA in Health and Human Physiology, ...[ MORE ]

Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carly attended the University of Iowa where she graduated with honors and earned a BFA in Dance, BA in Health and Human Physiology, and Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship. While pursuing her BFA, Carly performed works by Autumn Eckman, Marc Macaranas, Armando Duarte, Melinda Jean Myers, Eloy Barragàn, Jesse Factor, and Martha Graham. Carly has trained in intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago, the Martha Graham School, American Dance Festival, and the Kirov Academy of Ballet. Carly is a certified teacher with the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum for pre-primary through level five, as well as a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Beyond dance, Carly is also a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, and a freelance photographer. Carly was a trainee with The Big Muddy Dance Company last season, and she is excited to return for the 2018-19 season as an apprentice, while also serving as the company's Communications Coordinator.
Catherine
Catherine

 - Catherine Rogers

Instructor

Catherine Rogers returns to SLAD after a decade of experience as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. Catherine grew up in St. Louis where she trained at COCA. Upon gradu...[ MORE ]

Catherine Rogers returns to SLAD after a decade of experience as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. Catherine grew up in St. Louis where she trained at COCA. Upon graduating from Cor Jesu Academy, she spent two years at Butler University studying ballet and creative writing. After her sophomore year, she left to attend the Joffrey Ballet School and pursue her dream of dancing in New York City. Catherine toured nationally and internationally and danced professionally in Chicago and Madison. Most recently, she danced with Chicago Repertory Ballet and Madison Ballet. Throughout her career, Catherine performed the works of George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey, Robert Battle, Antony Tudor, Merce Cunningham and Sharon Eyal. While in Wisconsin, Catherine taught ballet, modern and improv and choreographed for recital and competition. Her pieces received numerous awards for choreography and judge’s preference. Most importantly, audiences loved watching and dancers loved dancing her work. As a teacher, Catherine believes in collaboration and joy within the structure of discipline and respect. She loves to connect with and mentor students to encourage their success in and out of the classroom. Catherine graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in Psychology in 2022. She loves to spend time with her wonderful husband, Joe. Her greatest joys are her son, Max, and her daughter, Rose. She is looking forward to another great year with SLAD!
Colin
Colin

 - Colin Ellis

Colin

Danielle
Danielle

 - Danielle Mertz

Teacher

Debbie
Debbie

 - Debbie Fischer

Administrative Assistant

Miss Debbie has over 40 years of administrative experience, plus a love of dance and music. Now that she is semi-retired she is able to live her dream of working in an ar...[ MORE ]

Miss Debbie has over 40 years of administrative experience, plus a love of dance and music. Now that she is semi-retired she is able to live her dream of working in an artistic, joyful atmosphere surrounded by children of all ages.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

 - Elizabeth Lloyd

Instructor

Originally from North Carolina, Liz Lloyd began her dance training at Ballet Spartanburg, in Spartanburg, South Carolina She then spent two years at University of North ...[ MORE ]

Originally from North Carolina, Liz Lloyd began her dance training at Ballet Spartanburg, in Spartanburg, South Carolina She then spent two years at University of North Carolina School of the Arts before being invited to train at the San Francisco Ballet School at the age of sixteen. After completing her studies in San Francisco, she joined Oregon Ballet Theater as a trainee in their Professional Division. In 2014 she joined Saint Louis Ballet as a company dancer where she performed for eight seasons, dancing numerous soloist and principal roles such as “The Queen of Hearts” in Alice in Wonderland, and “Fairy Godmother” in Cinderella. While dancing with the company she also taught students of all ages at the Saint Louis Ballet School and completed her Bachelor’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis. After spending the past year in New York City, she is thrilled to return to the St. Louis dance community and to share her love of dance and movement with the students of SLAD.
Halle
Halle

 - Halle Lawson

Instructor

Jordan
Jordan

 - Jordan McDaniel

Instructor

Karly
Karly

 - Karly Pierce Lystad

Instructor

Karly's unique perspective as a Midwest native has influenced her approach to dance education, emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration in the creative ...[ MORE ]

Karly's unique perspective as a Midwest native has influenced her approach to dance education, emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration in the creative process.

As a self-proclaimed "brain nerd", she is passionate about the transformative power of movement on the brain and body. Drawing from her background in kinesiology, special education, psychology and early childhood development, it was only natural that she found her purpose in teaching early childhood movement and music, and adaptive dance classes.

When Karly isn’t teaching, she uses her creative and artistic abilities as a digital content creator for Revolution Dancewear. Her additional contributions include working as the Communications Manager and research development for Rhythm Works Integrative Dance and Intellidance® Method, as well as creating adaptive choreography for Darby's Dancers.
Katherine
Katherine

 - Katherine Kennedy

Instructor

Katherine Kennedy is a St. Louis based professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer in her fifth season with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO). Katherine grew ...[ MORE ]

Katherine Kennedy is a St. Louis based professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer in her fifth season with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO). Katherine grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, extensively studying ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and contemporary. She graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in dance and a BBA in management from Western Michigan University in the spring of 2019. Some of her career highlights include performing original choreography by Joshua Manculich, Monique Haley, Christian Denice, Carl Flink, and Arianna Russ and in restagings of works choreographed by Roni Koresh, Aszure Barton, and Lindsey Thomas. Katherine is passionate about sharing dance with her community as MADCO’s Education Director and is thrilled to be teaching SLAD students of all ages!
Keenan
Keenan

 - Keenan Fletcher

Teacher

Lauren
Lauren

 - Lauren Bakula

Instructor

Lilly
Lilly

 - Lilly Hetz

Teacher

Maria
Maria

 - Maria Majors

Instructor, STLRC director

Maria has been teaching dance throughout the St. Louis area for over 25 years. Maria began her professional career in New York with the touring performance ensemble, Manh...[ MORE ]

Maria has been teaching dance throughout the St. Louis area for over 25 years. Maria began her professional career in New York with the touring performance ensemble, Manhattan Tap, under the direction of world renowned tap dancer and musician, Heather Cornell. Maria joined the ensemble for their European and North American tours. During that time, she had the extreme honor of touring with late tap dance great, Dr. Buster Brown, and was an original cast member in Manhattan Tap’s “Excursion Fare,” a full production featuring the musicians of Keith Terry and Crosspulse and premiered at the Joyce Theater in New York. Since returning to St. Louis in 1999, Maria has been on faculty with many area dance programs and has served as a consultant for dance education programs throughout the region. Maria was on faculty at COCA (Center of Creative Arts) in St. Louis, MO for 10 years, where she worked with students and families as Tap Program Coordinator, COCAdance Company Associate Director, and Pre-Professional Program Director. She was invited to work alongside the late Professor Robert L Reed for the production of the St. Louis Tap Festival, which she attended annually for 20 years and served on the Board of Directors. Maria and the members of moSTLy TAP were honored to partner with Anthony J. Russo for the Show Me Tap Fest in 2018 and work on faculty. Maria founded moSTLy TAP in 2017, following her passion to create performances that would boost enthusiasm for tap dance and encourage audiences to enjoy rhythm in new ways. In 2018, under the leadership of Phillip Russo, moSTLy JAZZ was formed. Together, the ensembles began producing live music and dance performances at community engagements and venues throughout the area. In response to a growing need for accessible performing arts education opportunities in both music and dance, Maria developed STL Rhythm Collaborative in 2019. The nonprofit organization has growing music and dance education programs, free community engagement events for all ages, and continues to present live music & dance performances through the professional ensembles, moSTLy TAP & moSTLy JAZZ. The unending passion, support, and expertise of the moSTLy TAP & moSTLy JAZZ artists are the driving forces behind the Collaborative. In addition to her work with STL Rhythm Collaborative, Maria is honored to be an adjunct professor of dance, teaching jazz and tap dance at Missouri Baptist University, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and Washington University, St. Louis.
Nyna
Nyna

 - Nyna Moore

Instructor

Renee
Renee

 - Renee Billman

Instructor

Sam
Sam

 - Sam Gaitsch

Instructor

Sarah
Sarah

 - Sarah Crawford

Instructor

Sean
Sean

 - Sean Sessions

Instructor

Sean Sessions is from Baltimore, Maryland, where he began his dance training under Dona Pidel. He is currently a dancer with Saint Louis Ballet, he has danced in product...[ MORE ]

Sean Sessions is from Baltimore, Maryland, where he began his dance training under Dona Pidel. He is currently a dancer with Saint Louis Ballet, he has danced in productions with Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Sean has trained with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and at Butler University. He has had the privilege of studying internationally at The Polish National Ballet School and at Jacob’s Pillow Ballet Program. Sean is excited and grateful to be passing along his love a ballet to the students of Saint Louis Academy of Dance.
SLAD
SLAD

 - SLAD Instructor

SLAD Instructor

Sophia
Sophia

 - Sophia Spectre

Instructor

Sophia Spectre is a professional dancer, choreographer, and dance educator based in St. Louis Missouri. Since receiving her BFA in Contemporary Dance and a BA in Psychol...[ MORE ]

Sophia Spectre is a professional dancer, choreographer, and dance educator based in St. Louis Missouri. Since receiving her BFA in Contemporary Dance and a BA in Psychology from Indiana University in 2024, she has choreographed several original works in St. Louis. Her piece, The Gremlins, was featured in Resilience Dance Company’s St. Louis Contemporary Dance Festival. As an educator and artist, Spectre is passionate about accessibility in the arts. Her work, The Plants are Talking- a contemporary dance theater piece discussing neurodivergent communication- is being transformed into a children’s book. Other notable training she has received has been with Flock Works, Visceral Dance Chicago, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, and David Dorfman Dance. She is thrilled to be teaching ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary at SLAD!
STLRC
STLRC

 - STLRC

Teacher

Weiwei
Weiwei

 - Weiwei Fu

Teacher

Ms. Weiwei Fu has received professional dance training from China (Shanghai Dance Academy, BA) and US (Lindenwood University, BFA). She danced professionally since she wa...[ MORE ]

Ms. Weiwei Fu has received professional dance training from China (Shanghai Dance Academy, BA) and US (Lindenwood University, BFA). She danced professionally since she was 18 and has received a variety of national and international awards. After retirement from 15 years of full-time professional dancing, Weiwei became passionate about passing her knowledge and understanding of dance arts to the next generation as dance teacher. She is an active member of the local Asian American community and her students have been performing traditional / fusion Chinese dances in all major cultural events in the Greater St. Louis area since 2013.
Weiwei
Weiwei

 - Weiwei Fu

Weiwei